STAATSKOERANT, 22 JULl E 2008 No. 31264 3 NOTICE 890 OF 2008 INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (ICASA) THE INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF ITS INTENTION TO REVIEW THE RADIO FREQUENCY BAND PLAN COVERING THE RANGE 9 KHz TO 1000GHz: Notice is hereby given that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ("the Authority") intends to review the South African Table of Frequency Allocations (SATFA), in terms of section 34 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act ( Act no. 36 of 2005). In light of the technological changes within the said spectrum across the globe and in an attempt to bring such changes in line with the latest World Radio Conference decisions ICASA has come to a conclusion that there is a need to review the South African Table of Frequency Allocations (SATFA) . 4 No. 31264 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22 JULY 2008 Interested persons are hereby invited to submit written representations on this draft review of SATFA, to be received by no later than 16H00 on the 29Ih August 2008 by post, hand delivery, fax and also in electronic format (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF) for the attention of: Fikile Moloja - RF Specialist Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Block A, ICASA, Pin Mill Farm, 16 4 Katherine Street, Private Bag XI 0002, Sandton 21 46 Telephone (01 1) 5663289 or 0798918 950 Facsimile (01 1) 5663290; E-mail : [email protected] All representations and documents lodged with ICASA pursuant to this notice shall be open for public inspection by interested parties during the normal office hours of ICASA. Representations and documents that ICASA considers to be confidential will not be available for public inspection. Persons submitting representations that they believe are confidential should indicate so clearly, together with their reasons for requesting confidentiality. ICASA may, on receiving such requests, determine that such documents shall not be open for public inspection. If a request for confidentiality is refused, the person making the request will be allowed to withdraw the document in question. Persons submitting written representations are invited to indicate whether they would like to make an oral representation and state the estimated duration thereof (duration not to exceed one hour). PARIS MASHILE CHAIRPERSON INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA STAATSKOERANT, 22 JULIE 2008 No. 31264 5 DRAFT SOUTH AFRICAN TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA 6 No. 31264 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 22 JULY 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 2 ......... BACKGROUND TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN TABLE OF ALLOCATIONS 4 ........ THE STRUCTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRICA TABLE OF ALLOCATIONS 6 .......................................................... TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS 8 PART A: 9 kHz .3 0 MHz ...................................................................................9 PART 6:3 0 MHz - 390 MHz ...........................................................................3. 6 PART C: 390 MHz - 890 MHz .........................................................................5 6 PART D: 890 MHz - 1000 GHz ........................................................................6 7 .................................. ANNEX A: SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL FOOTNOTES A ............................................................... ANNEX 6: TERMS AND DEFINITION B ....................................................................... ANNEX C: LIST OF ACRONYMS C South African Table of Frequency Allocations STAATSKOERANT, 22 JULIE 2008 No. 31264 7 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK The aim of the Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005 (the Act); is to promote convergence in the telecommunications, broadcasting and broadcasting signal distribution sectors and to provide the legal framework for convergence of these sectors; to make new provisions for the regulation of electronic communications services, electronic communications network services and broadcasting services; to provide the granting of new licenses and new social obligations; to provide for the control of the radio frequency spectrum; to provide for the continued existence of the Universal Service Agency and the Universal Service Fund; and to provide for matters incidental thereto. In carrying out its functions under the Act and the related legislation, the Authority controls, plans, administers and manages the use and licensing of the radio frequency spectrum as prescribed by the Act. No person may transmit any signal by radio or use radio apparatus to receive any signal by radio except under and in accordance with a radio frequency spectrum license granted by the Authority to such person in terms of this Act. A radio frequency spectrum license is required in addition to any service license contemplated in Chapter 3 of the Act, where the use of such service entails the use of radio frequency spectrum. The Authority may, taking into account the objects of the Act, prescribe procedures and criteria for awarding radio frequency spectrum licenses for competing applications or instances where there is insufficient spectrum available to accommodate demand. No person may use, supply, sell, offer for sale or lease or hire any type of electronic communications equipment or electronic communications facility, including radio apparatus, used or to be used in connection with the provision of electronic communications, unless such equipment, electronic communications facility or radio apparatus has been approved by the Authority. The Authority may, subject to provisions of the Standard Act, 1993 (Act No. 29 of 1993), prescribe standards for the performance and operation of any equipment or electronic communications facility, including radio apparatus. The Authority licenses radio frequency spectrum in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The normal procedure for applying for spectrum and all other related information can be found on the Authority's website by logging on to www.icasa.orq.za. In terms of Section 34 of the Act, the Authority is mandated to prepare the National Radio Frequency Plan. The Authority will continuously give due regard, as mandated by the Act, to the radio frequency spectrum allocated by the Minister for the exclusive use of the security services, taking into account the South African Table of Frequency Allocations 2 8 No. 31264 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22 JULY 2008 government's current and planned use of radio frequency spectrum, including but not limited to, civil aviation, aeronautical services and scientific research. The information contained in this document is made available by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on the understanding that it is for information and enforcement purposes. It is not intended to form the basis of any investment decisions and should not be considered as a recommendation by the Authority to participate in any tender for the allocation of radio spectrum. Recipients of this document in any format should consult their own professional financial, legal or other advice in order to make an independent assessment of the potential value of any allocation of radio spectrum by what ever means applicable. South African Table of Frequency Allocations STAATSKOERANT, 22 JULIE 2008 No. 31264 9 BACKGROUND TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN TABLE OF ALLOCATIONS There have been tremendous developments in the Information Communications Telecommunications (ICT) Sector of the Republic of South Africa since the last publication of the South African Table of Frequency Allocations in 2004. These developments include the repealing of the Telecommunications Act (Act No. 103 of 1996) and the introduction of the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) (Act No. 36 of 2005). Further, the pattern of radio use is not static. It is continuously evolving to reflect many changes that are taking place in the radio environment; particularly in the field of technology. Spectrum allocations must reflect these changes and the position set out in this plan is therefore subject to continuous review. This publication of the Revised South African Table of Frequency Allocations is part of the programme to extend and update information being made available to the public and is aimed at current users, potential users and investors in Electronic Communication sector in the Republic of South Africa. It outlines the types of Radiocommunication services permitted in each frequency band together with some notes on future developments. It takes into account International, Regional and bilateral agreements on Radio Spectrum entered into, up to the end of World Radiocommunications Conference 2007. This revision covers the following: The extension of the table to cover the range 9 kHz to 1000 GHz. Previously the range was 20 MHz to 70 GHz. The alignment of the tenor of the table with the Act and related legislation. The update of the -table with changes made by WRC 97, WRC 2000, WRC03, and WRC-07. In particular, national footnotes regarding IMT have been added. Allocation of spectrum that was previously reserved. Making spectrum available for new technologies and services. Increasing the amount of spectrum available for Mobile services and aligning land mobile sub-bands in the VHF with the rest of ITU Region 1. Alignment with ITU Radio Region 1 For the purposes of allocating frequencies, the ITU has divided the world into three Regions as shown on the following map; South African Table of Frequency Allocations 10 No. 31264 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22 JULY 2008 The Republic of South Africa falls under ITU Region 1 and thus aligns its frequency allocations with those specified for ITU Region 1 in the ITU Radio Regulations as required by the ECA. Further information on the South African Table of Frequency Allocations and its interpretation can be obtained by contacting: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa [ICASA] Pin Mill Farm 164 Katherine Street. Sandton 21 46 Phone +27 11 566 3000 Fax +27 11 566 3292 URL: http://www.icasa.org.za E-mail:[email protected] South African Table of Frequency Allocations STAATSKOERANT, 22 JULIE 2008 No. 31264 11 THE STRUCTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRICA TABLE OF ALLOCATIONS The Table lists all the allocations in the radio frequency spectrum in the Republic of South Africa. It covers the frequency range 9 kHz to 1000 GHz. For each frequency range, it lists types of Radiocommunications services that are permitted. - Column 1 ITU Region 1 Allocations The ITU Radio Regulations divides the spectrum into frequency bands with the allocation of primary and secondary services. Services with the names printed in "capitals" (example: FIXED) are "primary" services; and those with the names printed in "normal characters" (example: Mobile) are "secondary" services. The frequency band referred to in each allocation is indicated in the left hand top corner of the part of the Table concerned. The order of listing does not indicate relative priority within each category. The ITU-R footnote references which appear in the Table below the allocated service or services apply to more than one of the allocated services, or to the whole of the allocation concerned. The ITU-R footnote references which appear to the right of the name of a service are applicable only to that particular service. Secondary services are on a non-interference basis (NIB) to the primary services. Stations of a secondary service: i. shall not cause harmful interference to stations of primary services to which frequencies are already assigned or to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date; ii. cannot claim protection from harmful interference from stations of a primary service to which frequencies are already assigned or may be assigned at a later date; iii. can claim protection, however, from harmful interference from stations of the secondary service(s) to which frequencies may be assigned at a later date. - Column 2 South African (SA) Allocations This column indicates the range of frequencies associated with the main allocations, once again divided into Primary and Secondary Services. This column contains only those services currently used in South Africa. South African Table of Frequency Allocations 12 No. 31264 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22 JULY 2008 - Column 3 Applications This column indicates frequency utilisation for existing or new systems relating to the South African allocations. It is not an all-inclusive list of applications, but serves as a quick reference of spectrum availability for servicelequipment applications. - Column 4 Notes and Comments This column indicates items such as the following: Government Gazette Notices pertinent to specific frequency bands, future requirements in specific bands, and ITU Recommendations, which require implementation. Frequencies Frequencies are expressed as follows: - in kilohertz (kHz), up to and including 3 000 kHz; - in megahertz (MHz), above 3 MHz, up to and including 3 000 MHz; - in gigahertz (GHz), above 3 GHz, up to and including 300 GHz. Table I : Band Segmentation Symbols Frequency Range VLF 9 kHz - 30 kHz LF 30kHz-300kHz MF HF VHF UHF SHF - EHF 30 GHz 300 GHz 300 GHz - 1000 GHz South African Table of Frequency Allocations